LAW10022-Law and Social Science-H1 Portfolio Task 1: Crime today, gone tomorrow?
History, Arts, and Linguistics
14th Sep 2026
2
Due 4 Sep by 23:59
Points 20
Submitting a file upload
Assessment overview
Title: Crime today, gone tomorrow?
Unit Learning Outcomes Addressed:
LO1: Demonstrate an understanding of the interaction of legal principles with social science principles.
LO4: Discuss the confluence of law and social science and the implications for the legal system
Individual assessment
Assessment type: Short analytical essay
Weighting: 20%
Word count (or equivalent): 500 words (+/- 10%)
Due date: Week 4, Friday 11:59pm
Submission procedure: Submit via the assessment submission link on Canvas. Assessments will be submitted through Turnitin. For this assignment you may submit as many times as you like before the due date. Your assignment will be checked for plagiarism with a similarity report generated through Turnitin. You will be able to review the Similarity report immediately. The teaching staff can see each of your submissions, and the associated Similarity Report. Should you choose to submit more than once, the teaching staff will be marking the final uploaded file (until submission date/time).
Feedback date: not before 2 weeks after submission
Referencing style: APA 7
Who will see your work? Lecturer, Convenor, Turnitin
Assessment explanation
Crime is often presented as something fixed and universal. However, what is considered criminal behaviour changes across time, cultures and societies. Laws change, social attitudes shift, and behaviours that were once criminal may become accepted, while new behaviours (or old ones) may become subject to legal regulation.
This assessment introduces one of the foundational concepts of criminology and socio-legal studies: that crime is socially constructed and can be understood differently depending on historical, cultural and social context. The task encourages students to examine the relationship between law and society and to consider how legal responses are shaped by changing social values, beliefs, knowledge and political priorities.
This assessment develops students' skills in critical thinking, applying theory to examples, academic writing, and using evidence to support an argument.
Task
Crime is often described as "transitory and relative". Using one example, explain how legal and social understandings of a particular crime have changed over time. In your answer, consider the social, cultural, political and/or scientific factors that contributed to these changes and discuss what this reveals about the relationship between law and society.
Instructions
Select one example of a behaviour that has been criminalised, decriminalised, regulated differently over time, or experienced significant changes in public attitudes.
1. Briefly explain how the behaviour was understood or regulated in the past.
2. Describe how legal approaches and social attitudes have changed over time.
3. Identify the social, cultural, political and/or scientific factors that contributed to these changes.
4. Apply relevant concepts from the unit to explain the relationship between law and society, using at least 3 academic sources.
5. Conclude by reflecting on what your example demonstrates about the idea that crime is "transitory and relative".
Resources
To support completion of this assessment, students should review:
• Weeks 1–4 learning materials.
• Lecture recordings and workshop activities.
• Readings relating to the social construction of crime.
• Academic journal articles available through the Swinburne Library.
• APA 7 referencing resources available through the Library.
• The assessment rubric available on Canvas.
Pre-submission checklist
Before submitting your assessment, ensure that you have:
• Selected a suitable example of a crime or criminalised behaviour.
• Explained both legal and social understandings of the issue.
• Discussed how these understandings have changed over time.
• Identified factors that contributed to these changes.
• Applied relevant concepts from the unit.
• Used APA 7 referencing consistently.
• Proofread your work for spelling, grammar and clarity.
• Submitted the correct file through Canvas before the due date.
Rubric
|
Criteria |
Fail (0–49%) |
Pass (50–59%) |
Credit (60–69%) |
Distinction (70–79%) |
High Distinction (80–100%) |
Weight |
|
Understanding of the Crime and Historical Context |
Demonstrates limited understanding of the chosen crime or behaviour. Discussion of historical context is inaccurate, incomplete or unclear. |
Demonstrates a basic understanding of the chosen crime or behaviour and provides some relevant historical context. |
Demonstrates a clear understanding of the chosen crime or behaviour and relevant historical context. |
Demonstrates a well-developed understanding of the chosen crime or behaviour and its historical context. |
Demonstrates a sophisticated and insightful understanding of the chosen crime or behaviour, including its broader historical significance. |
20% |
|
Explanation of Changes in Legal and Social Understandings |
Provides limited or inaccurate explanation of changes in legal and social understandings over time. |
Identifies some changes in legal and social understandings, though explanation may be descriptive or incomplete. |
Clearly explains changes in legal and social understandings over time. |
Provides a detailed and well-supported explanation of how legal and social understandings have changed. |
Provides a nuanced and insightful explanation of complex changes in both legal and social understandings over time. |
30% |
|
Application of Unit Concepts and Theories |
Limited or incorrect use of relevant unit concepts. Concepts may be absent or misunderstood. |
Applies at least one relevant concept, though application may be basic or descriptive. |
Appropriately applies relevant unit concepts to explain changes in understandings of crime. |
Effectively applies multiple concepts and demonstrates strong understanding of their relevance. |
Insightfully applies and integrates multiple concepts to develop a sophisticated analysis of crime as transitory and relative. |
25% |
|
Analysis of Factors Contributing to Change |
Limited discussion of factors influencing change. Discussion may be inaccurate or unsupported. |
Identifies some social, cultural, political or scientific factors influencing change. |
Analyses relevant factors that contributed to changing understandings of crime. |
Provides a well-developed analysis of multiple factors and their influence on legal and social change. |
Demonstrates sophisticated analysis of the interplay between social, cultural, political and/or scientific influences on changing understandings of crime. |
15% |
|
Academic Writing, Structure and Referencing |
Writing lacks clarity and organisation. Frequent errors in expression and/or referencing. |
Writing is generally clear and organised. Some errors in expression or referencing. |
Writing is clear, coherent and appropriately structured. Minor errors in expression or referencing. |
Writing is well-structured, professional and easy to follow. Referencing is accurate and consistent. |
Writing is exceptionally clear, coherent and professional. Referencing is consistently accurate and demonstrates excellent academic practice. |
10% |